Pneumatic classifier



Sept. 14, 1943. 1 R. K. ROURKE ,3 2

I PNEUMATIC CLASSIFIER v Filed 001;. 29, 1941 r 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR Pu ser A. Palm/r5.

A ORNEY Sept. 14, 1943. R. K. ROURKE Q 2,329,299

' PNEUMATIC CLASSIFIER Filed Oct. 29, 1941 4 Sheets-Shet 4 INVENTOR Papa-e7- Pave/r5.

TORNEY Patented Se t. 14, 1943 UNITED *--S'lAT ES. PATEN PNEUMATIC cmssmmn we Rupert KQRourke, Lompoc, CaliL, assignorto" J ohns-Manville'Corporation, New York,

corporation'of New York s Application October 29, 1941, Serial No. 416,935 e V v ZClaims. (01. 209-144) This invention relates to an apparatus suitably adapted for treatingdisintegrated, pulverulent or'comminuted materials, such as non-metallic minerals, clays, etc. The apparatus is especially adapted for the classification of the coarse particle size diatomaceous earth powders into components which differ primarily in particle size and/or particles whichare larger than or heavier thanrernaining portionsxof such .disintegrated materials. It --is adapted for treating diatomaceous earthfor more complete separation of the disintegrated fine materials from the larger; and heavier com-v ponents than any other separating apparatus heretofore known. 1

-One of the most important applications of the present'nove'l apparatus is in the classification of coarse particle size diatomaceous 'earth mate-.-

rials in order to separate the materials, into two components which 'difierprimarily. only in also particularly,

particle size. As for example, the separating apparatus described herein will separate'products into components which have a greatly increased flow rate,"1f the products are used as-filteraids, as compared to the flow rate of products obtained as a result of the separating action in previously known separators. Fast flow rate filter aids are very desirable products in indu'stries using filter aids,- and'the separated components obtained inithe presentclassifier have unusually high flowrates as willbe illustrated below. These high flow rate components are obtained by passing diatomaceous earth through the present classifier, a result which has not heretofore" been obtainable through previously known classifiers. In filtration practice, a 30 to 40 per cent increase. in flow rate of thefast flow rate product is of substantial'importance in the industry. I l i Another application of the classifier is to remove impurities from such materials as dietomaceous earth (eithercalcined, uncalcined or chemically treated), bleaching clays, or decolormaterials.

In prior methods oftclassifying:disintegrated and comminuted materials, separators of the cyclone, type have been used extensively. Di f- "ficulty has, however, beenv experiencedin such separators because of the tendency of the finer particles to adhere to larger particles and thus be carried by the larger particlesout or the systenp. It, is ;highly desirable that" the finer particles be removed frornqthe'coarse particles, thus obtaining more sharply defined, separations of the various components- Another type of apparatus suitable for classifying pulverulerit and coniminuted materials is the pneumatic classifier as disclosed in my previous, Patent No. 2,125,086, granted, July'26, 1938. The invention disclosed in the present applicationis an improyement on the apparatus disclosed and claimed in my earlier patent. i l

It will be noted that inthe's'eparator disclosed in Patent No. 2,125,086, fluid bearing suspended particlesis introduced substantially tangentially atthe'side walls of the classifying chamber.- The fluid is, therefore, directedinto theclass'ifying chamber towards or along the side wallsof said chamber. Asa result there is a tendency for the whole' mass ofsuspended particles to be thrown directly againstthe walls of the classifying chamber. Thisis particularly true of diatomaceous earth particleswhich have a tendency to cling together ,or agglomerate.

In the separator disclosed in the present in vention, fluid is introduced through the top of the separating chamber at'an an'gle to the horizontal. The fluid streams are directed so as to form a downwardly'movin'g vortex.) Ihe distance which the bulkof' the suspended particles would have to travel before they could come in contact with the walls of the classifier is relatively large compared to that in the previous separator. This gives the larger-and heavier particles (which have greater outward velocity components due to centrifugal force'than'the smaller and lighter particles) a greater oppor tunity to separate frornthe smaller and lighter ones.

Broadly stated, the"method of this invention distinguishes over prior known methods in that.

the fluid bearing disintegrated, pulverulent and comminuted materials in ,SUSPGl'lSiOH is continuously introduced into a classifying or separating zone at an angle to the'horizontal plane, and

directed so that a downwardly moving vortex is created. Simultaneously, additionalfiuid is injected intotfie classifying zone in asubstanti ally horizontalplane;

The fiuid bearing disintegrated materials and also the additional washing or secondary fluid are introduced into the classification zone at sufficient velocities to form a rapidly rotating vortex.

The centrifugal force on the particles resulting from their being suspended in the fluid vortex imparts different outward velocity components toparticles of different sizes and different weights. The larger and heavier particles have greater outward velocity components than the smaller and lighter ones. outward velocity component is the inward velocity component caused by the inward movee ment of the fiuid medium toward the classifier outlet. The largest and heaviest particles will have the greatest resultant outward velocity and will be thrown out of the fiuid vortex before said fluid containing the remaining finer particles passes into the classifier outlet. The additional fluid introduced in the substantially horizontal plane exerts a washing'action of the particles tending to carry fine particles thrown out with the coarse back into the fluid stream. The result is that the mixture of various sized particles, introduced into the separator, is divided into a coarse and a fine fraction, the coarse fraction containing the highest'percentage of the larger particles, and the fine fraction containing the highest percentage of the smaller particles.

' Due tof'the combined action of the two. fiuids injected at dlfierent points and at different angles into the classifying chamber, thetendency for fine particles to adhere to the larger particles is minimized. This results in a high efiiciency of separation of coarse from fine particles. It is preferable that the fluid means introduced in the substantially horizontal plane be substantiallyv free from any disintegrated material. The secondary fiuid is introduced at aplurality of circumferentially spaced points so that the larger particles of the downwardly rnoving vortex will be subjected tothe blasts of the incoming sec: ondary fluid. After the coarse particles have been forced to the outside of the vortex, they are discharged into a collecting hopper through an annular outlet formed by the lower edge of the walls of the classifying chamber and a separating cone placed below it. The fiuid bearing the fine fraction of suspended particles leaves the separating chamber through an outlet conduit placed centrally in the separating cone.

In the method and apparatus of the present invention, the suspended fine and coarse materials move downwardly along different paths, and the separation of the fine and coarse materials takes place without substantially relying upon the force of gravity.

In describing the invention, reference will be made to the appended drawings, which disclose a preferred apparatus especially suitable for the improved method of separating fluid-suspended disintegrated and comminuted materials. In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 diagrammatically represents a combined separating, classifying and auxiliary equipment ordinarily used in the operation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved classifier;

Fig. 3, is a side elevation, partly in section, of the preferred form of the classifier;

Fig. 4 is a section view of a modified form of the improved classifier;

Fig. 5 is a section view of an adjustable elbow section through which the fiuid materials are forced; and

Opposed to this t Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly'in phantom, illus-' trating the adjusting means for the elbow in Fig. 5. g

Referring to Fig. i, suitably comminuted, disintegrated and pulverulent materials are introduced into the system throughthe medium of a suitable feeding device I and conveyor 2. The

conveyor deposits the materials through the materials is made. After the air carrying a considerable portion of fines leaves the cyclone, it passes through pipe I and a blower ll tends to force the airthrough pipe l2 back into pipe 4,

where a portion of the air is diverted into pl 13,. which leads to the bag house 14.

In the separating apparatus the coarse fractions are withdrawn through rotary valve l5 and spout l6. Similarly, in the cyclone 9 the coarser fractions are separated from the system through a rotary valve l1 and dropped into spout l8.

Also, in the bag house the .very fine components -of the fraction are removed through sliding through the medium of the blower 20 and conduit 2| which will tend to impart, as willbe discussed below, a. more thorough washing action to the materials as the materials pass through the classifier 1. Suitable dampers 22, 23, 24 and 25 are advantageously distributed throughout the system for proper control bf the volume of air. These dampers may be opened and closed at will, depending upon the quantity of air which may be considered desirable to pass through the separator, cyclone and bag house of the system.

The details of the novel classifier are more specifically illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and in clude a classifying section 30 which is substantially cylindrical in shape. The walls of the plate 29 covers the upper portion of the classifier 30. The plate 29 as shown in the drawing is in the form of an inverted cone, but it is to be understood that the closure may be a fiat plate. Conduits 26, joined together by a common header plate 21, are connected with the closure plate 29 and the upper portion of the classifier 30.

At the lower portion of the conduit 26,.the conduit is angularly bent so that the connection with the plate 29 will be at a substantial angle. Thus any fluid passing through conduit 26 will be injected into the classifier 30 at an angle, but it is preferable that the angle formed between the A convenient modification may be to have a.

swivel joint, a universal joint, or other adjusting means at point 28 at the lower portion of conduits 26. Such a modification is more fully illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 described'below.

Through the medium of such a modification the direction of theentering air streams with respect to the classifier wall 30 may be varied.

A hopper 3| in the form of a housing is fastened to the lower portion of the classifier 30 through the medium of a headplate 32. The upper end of the housing should have a diameter greater than the diameter ofthe bottom portionof the classifier 30. The larger area of the housing is essential at this point to'accommodate the equipment for separating the coarse, and. finecomponents of the downwardlymoving vortex. Mounted within the hopper 3i is a funnel member 33 which is located in such a position that the opening will communicate with the lower and substantially central portion of the classifier 30. Pipe 34 is connected with the funne1 member 33 in order to convey the fluid and suspended particles, not thrown out into hopper 3|, away from the classifier, The upper edge of the funnel member 33 is provided with an outwardly and downwardly extending apron in the form of a truncated cone, the outer edge of the apron 35 being directed toward the side walls of the hopper 3|. It is essential that the surfaces of the apron 35 be spaced from the lower edges of the walls of the classifier in order that an open passage 36 exist at this particular point.

Additional conduits 31 having entry ports 38 are spaced around the outer wallsfof classifier 30. The conduits 31 are supplied with air through pipe 2|, illustrated in the diagrammatic 1.

The entire classifier and hopper structure is suitably supported on any convenient base39 and stabilized by means of reinforcement orbracing elements 40 and 4| In Figs. 4, and 6, a modified form of pneumatic classifier is illustrated showing a convenient adjustingmeans to vary the position of the elbow section attached to conduit 26.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, a conduit elbow section 42 is fastened to a suitable flange 43. A cylindrical spacer section 44 is fastened to plate 29 at its lower portion and its upper portion is fastened to flange 45. An additional flange 46 is fastened to the lower portion of conduit 26. Arcuate slots 48 are properly spaced in flange 43 and form the limits to which elbow section 42 may be moved during the adjusting operation. Securing means, preferably bolts 41, fasten flanges 45, 43 and 46 together. The angle at which elbow 42 extends into the upper portion of classifier 30 may be changed by loosening bolts 41 and moving flange 43 by means of handle 49 secured to flange 43.

In the sectional view of the classifier illustrated in Fig. 4, elbows 42 extend through and slightly below closure plate 29 but above the plane of conduits 31 which are spaced around the outer walls of classifier 30. In Fig. 3, conduits 26 are illustrated as entering the classifier at approximately the intersection point of closure plate 29 and conduits 26.

An upwardly extending housing 50 preferably in the form of a truncated cone, Fig. 4, may be placed at the upper portion of conduits. and connected with pipe 6. Gone 51 is placed inside the truncated cone section 50 and serves as a medium to uniformly distribute the fluid and suspended particles to conduits 26.

In operation, fluid bearing disintegrated, pulverulent or comminuted materials is fed through pipe 6 to conduits 26, which convey the materials into the classifier 30 through the top closure plate 29. Inasmuch as the conduits are placed so as to discharge the fluid at a substantial angle,

a rotating motion in the form of a downwardly moving vortex will be created within the classi-' fler.. In'this operation the coarse particles will be thrown toward the outer edges of the vortex, owing. to the greater centrifugal force of the heavier components. In the drawing ten con dui'ts are shown as entering the"classifler, but this number may conveniently be changed,de pending upon the nature of the materialbeing treated and the separation desired. j

Secondary fluid, which isfsubstanti yj free from any suspended materials, is introduced at spaced pointsintothe lower portion'o'fthe classifier. Generally, the secondary conduits are directed into the classifier substantiallytangentially to the walls of the classifierialthou'gh it is understood that theangle ofentryof the con.- duits 31 may be varied so that they are tangent to a circle of smaller diameter than the diamete of classifier chamber 3|).

The secondary fluid will tend tohav'ea washing effect on the downwardly moving vortex and given which accomplish an improvedseparating action. A consideration of the following data will demonstrate the improved performance of the novel separator as compared to the separating action in the separator claimed and described in my previous patent.

The following performance tests were made on diatomaceous earth of substantially the same particle size in each operation. The diatomaceous earth materials used in the tests for classification are a flux calcined diatomaceous earth material of substantially coarser particle size than commercial filter powders or flllers. This type of material has been diflicult to separate with previously known separators.

Separator 1 Separator 2 Separator Cyclone Separator Cyclone ,(eoarse (fine (coarse ne fraction) fraction) fraction) fraction) Pounds 1,850 2, 121 1,114 1, 941 Percentage 46. 6 53. 4 36. 5 63. 5 Flow rate vs. standard 107 227 102 Wet density, lbs./cu. ft. 17. 9 14.4 17.6 14. 9

Separator 1 was designed in accordance with the disclosure of my previouspatent, while, on the other hand, separator 2 was designed in ac cordance with the disclosure of the present application.

It will be noted that a significantly higher per centage of the flne materials (cyclone product) was removed from the mixture in the separator 2 as compared to the separation in separator 1. Attention is directed to the fact that with separator 1 the ratio of the coarse to flne fraction is 1:1.146, whereas, with the improved separator described and,.claimed herein, the corresponding ratio of coarse to fine fraction is 1:1.743. This definitely demonstrates a cleaner and sharper classification oi the various particles;

Attention is also directed to the increased fiow rate of the separator products, which is one of the important features 01' the products separated.

in the novel apparatus. The improved fiow rate or the separator productsis of great importance in faster filtration operations, particularly in industries where speed-up oi 'filtrations is desired; It will be noted that the fiow" rate of the coarse fraction irom separator 2 is significantly higher than the fiow rate of the coarse fraction from separator 1. This demonstrates that a cleaner and sharper separation of coarse from fine par- .ticles was made by separator 2 The present apparatus has distinct advantages over the apparatus described and claimed in my previous patent. Through the use of the present apparatus, the separation of the materials into various fractions can'be eflec'ted with greater emciency. The line or division between the fractions will be relatively'sharp.

The details o'ftheapparatus that have been given are for the purpose of illustration, not restriction.' It is intended that variations within the spirit of the invention are included within the scope of the claims,

What I claim is: I

1. In solid particle classifying and separating apparatus, an upright substantially cylindrical classifying chamber, concentrically arranged outlets in the bottom or said chamber for the separate removal of coarse and fine particles, a plurality of spaced fluid inlet ports disposed in at least two vertically and horizontally spaced circular rows within the chamber, means including certain of said ports for introducing at high velocity into the upper portion or said classifier at spaced points on a circle of smaller diameter than the classifier a plurality of downwardly inclined streams of fluid bearing disintegrated material in suspension. ina direction substantially parallel circumferentially to the chamber walls whereby a downwardly moving vortex is developed, and means for introducing through other ports a plurality o'f horizontally directed streams of coarse and fine particles, a plurality of spaced fiuid inlet ports disposed in at least two vertically and horizontally spaced circula rows within the chamber, means for introducing at high velocity into the upper portion ,'of said classifier at certain ports spaced from th'eclassifier walls a plura1ity of downwardly f inclined streams or fiuid bearing disintegrated material in suspension, in a direction substantially parallel circumferentially to the classifier walls', whereby to develop a downwardly moving vortex, means for adjusting the angle formed by each of said entering streams with respect to the adjacent classifier wall, and means including ports in the circumferential wall of said classifier for tangentially introducing high velocity streams of secondary fluid substantially horizontally into the lower portion of the classifier.

- RUPERT K. BOURKE. 

